Hi Friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Well it is certainly the Holiday Season now!! This year has been so slow and then just has flown by all at the same time. We have been working on two beautiful mural projects that I can’t wait to share!! Murals are such beautiful forms of art and date back to 30,000 BC. Today they transform rooms into a work of art and are as prevalent in design today as they were centuries before. Follow along to see What’s Segreto Up To?

The first project is one Leslie -or little cute Leslie as I call her -worked on with some really lovely homeowners. She was so excited about it, meeting daily and sending me snap shots along the way. The lady of the house is an artist in her own right and Leslie admired her work which adorned many of their walls. Seeing this beautiful rendition in Veranda, these homeowner’s were inspired to transform their dining room. They spent weeks looking for wall-coverings, but not finding anything that really spoke to them, so we were called in to discuss. Super excited at the prospect of having something custom which only they would have!

Originally thinking that they wanted a room full of color, Leslie looked at inspirations pictures of landscapes with the homeowners discussing what they were drawn to in each. Color, style and subject matter were discussed with each. This process is fun as sometimes you don’t know why you like a certain piece and is interesting to see what you are really drawn to.

Here are a few they had pulled that we reviewed. One spouse wanted bold and the other wanted a tonal piece. They decided to go bold and work back from there.

Printing out a picture of the space we did a colored pencil sketch to give them a basic concept. After living with it taped to their walls for a few days they decided they would rather have a grisaille, which is a painting executed entirely in shades of grey or of another neutral greyish color.

I am love grisaille murals as I have a beautiful scene painted in the inset paneling of my living room. Did you know tone on tone paintings in brown tones are called brunaille, and paintings executed in green are called verdaille.

With the new direction, our work began. Watching a mural come to life is really a magical experience. When Segreto was smaller I use to sit with our muralist and watch him paint. Occasionally, he would let me paint right beside him, probably painting out what I had just done as soon as I left. Of course sweet Allan never told me that.

One thing that is truly special about a mural is that the work is unique to your space and something so custom that no one else would ever have the same thing! The homeowners with an artistic young daughter also felt if she took her paints to the wall, a mural would be easier to repair than a wall covering! Good point!

This landscape really evolved each day as another layer of deeper or lighter grays were added to give the painting such dimension, depth and life.

The water and grass so realistic that I can feel the wind blowing it causing ripples in the water. Can’t you?

Just how everything evolves, this room is continuing taking on a life of its own. Finishing up the mural we are going to paint the wood trim and wainscotting in the room a Segreto Paint color which pulls a gray from the mural, then plaster the ceiling in a softer, dreamy shade of gray. When the room is totally complete, you will be the first to see its final reveal. I hope I get invited to dinner here- what about you?

Working with designer Lynda Eyles is always a treat! I am helping her with finishes for an amazing house. We are plastering most of the home, but their daughter’s bedroom is to have a personality all its own. Her vision was to paint large scale peonies over the headboard using artist Karin Broker’s paintings as inspiration.

Lynda wanted them oversized to feel contemporary and also in the grisaille fashion.

I was super excited to work with her on this because I have admired German artist Wouter Dolk for many years who had some some beautiful peonies murals and had always slated to paint them somewhere in my house. wonder if this one would be considered a brunaille.

Getting started I was in love with how it was turning out! Lynda wanted little bits of blush added and if you look at the bottom left floral can can see it gently shaded on the petals.

In this progress picture you can see some painted and then sketch marks- we always draw on the wall first in charcoal so the client can see the composition before se start.

Truly a painting on the wall! . From transitional to contemporary, murals are beautiful conversation pieces that really set the mood and tone of a room. These both are timeless pieces of art! I can’t wait to show you both theses projects completely finished!

GIFT GIVING MADE EASY! Who doesn’t love design inspiration, especially with so many focusing on their homes?!

The Segreto Design Book Series is perfect for any design lover or color enthusiast on your list. Give the gift of inspiration this holiday season! If you would like personalized copies before the holidays, please email laurena@segretofinishes.com to organize. Till Next Time! I hope you all have a wonderful week!! XO Leslie